Bernhard Kresse – 2008 “Nikolaus Georg Ries” 8-string

Description

Bernhard Kresse is a very respected German master luthier based in Cologne. He is one of the most sought-after guitar makers worldwide, especially when it comes to replicas of 19th-century guitars. In the course of his career, he restored an impressive number of historical guitars and gained extensive knowledge about these instruments. Many of his guitars have been recorded by international musicians over the last decades.

This beautiful instrument was built by Bernhard Kresse after an eight-string guitar made by the nineteenth-century Viennese luthier Nicolaus Georg Ries. Eight-string guitars of this type were probably inspired by J. A. Stauffer’s “new 8-string guitar,” which emerged in the early 1840s. It is important to note that influential composers and virtuosos of the time, such as Regondi and Mertz, owned and performed on these multi-string instruments, giving them a dedicated repertoire. This particular instrument features a highest-grade spruce soundboard and flamed maple back and sides. Moreover, it has an adjustable neck, 21 frets ebony fingerboard, six strings running over the fingerboard, and two additional bass strings. This guitar’s unique, authentic and delicate tone will highlight any 19th-century musical work. Finally, this instrument is in mint condition with barely any playing marks on it.

Watch the presentation video of this particular guitar below, where you can find a lot of additional information about its playability and sound.